Papua New Guinea's Parliament is reportedly in lockdown as angry, unpaid police and soldiers storm the building

Chinese and Papua New Guinea national flags are seen lining a street in front of the parliament building in central Port Moresby, the capital city of the poorest nation in the 21-member Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) group, in Papua New Guinea, November 15, 2018.REUTERS/David Gray

Parliament building in Port Moresby was in lockdown Tuesday afternoon.

According to The Guardian, unpaid police and soldiers were "smashing vehicles and entryways," on Tuesday afternoon (AEDT).

Angry local police and national soldiers have stormed PNG's Parliament building, shattering windows and tearing up furniture, according to reports from The Guardian's Australia edition.

According to a person familiar with the situation in Port Moresby, the group is made up largely of military police and the Papua New Guinea correctional services, or CIS.

The officers are demanding their unpaid bonuses, after working to keep the peace while the capital Port Moresby hosted the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit — a first for the impoverished Pacific nation.

The rampage by disgruntled members of PNG's Joint Security Forces Taskforces is only the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to unpaid officials, according to the Post Courier.

Security forces and line agencies were promised payment first thing Monday, but that did not eventuate, resulting in today's rampage, the Post Courier added.

The Post Courier has reported that "opportunists taking advantage of the tense situation (are) commencing looting and fighting."

Police sources have said the National Capital District Police are trying to contain the situation. The Papua New Guinea Defence Force have also confirmed they are keeping watch on the situation.

In a press release before the attack on Tuesday afternoon (AEDT), the PNG Police Association said it was "very concerned" that the security personnel (Police, Defence and CIS) allowances for APEC had yet to be paid.

"What a gross irony! It is a slap in the face of all the security elements, they had worked diligently and tirelessly to provide effective and efficient security to the twenty one economies, their prime ministers and presidents, including business delegates comprising some ten thousand plus dignitaries. They have performed in par with other international security forces," the statement read.

Around 300 people made their way into the building a spokesman for PNG's Parliament, Harry Momos, told the New York Times. However, things calmed down after members were able to meet with officials.

Papua New Guinea, the poorest of all 21 APEC nations, invested millions of dollars over years of preparation into hosting the summit. They quite literally rolled out the red carpet for Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit and even purchased and flew in three Bentleys and some 40 Maseratis to drive dignitaries around Moresby's disintegrating roads.